5 Facts: People with Diabetes & Their Eyes

It’s probably pretty hard to imagine losing a hand, a few toes, or your entire foot. Trying to pretend, even for a moment, you don’t have one of your limbs is nearly impossible…but trying to pretend you can’t see is pretty easy, and scary. Close your eyes for 10 seconds and try to walk across a room–let alone a parking lot–and you get a tiny glimpse into the possible reality of losing your vision due to diabetes.

2. “Despite that very real fear of losing your vision, almost 50% of people at risk of vision loss from diabetes do not get regular eye exams.”

What’s preventing you from going to an eye doctor? If you’re afraid the annual exam is painful–it’s not. It’s actually very simple and takes less than an hour. The worst part is that your eyes will be really sensitive to sunlight after being dilated (just a drop or two of a liquid that dilates your eyes, temporarily enlarging your pupils to allow more your light into eyes so your doctor can see deep into your retina). Just bring a pair of sunglasses to wear afterwards–no matter how cloudy the day might be.

3. “Most people with diabetes who do not receive regular eye examinations will eventually lose some, if not all, of their vision.”

A terrifying statement. Schedule your appointment with an eye doctor. Search for one online in your area (literally, just type into Google “town and state you live in, eye doctor” and you should find a variety to choose from), and make an appointment. Diabetes retinopathy is a very real thing, but it’s also very treatable and you can save your vision if you catch it early enough!

4. “Diabetic vision loss can now be treated with several therapies, used alone or in combination.”

There are many treatments available and they aren’t painful. We think of our eyes as being very tender and sensitive, but the treatments for retinopathy are not severely complicated. You can do this. Here’s just one of the newest treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

5. “Treatments are the most effective when complications are diagnosed early, before vision symptoms occur.”

This is why the best way to protect your vision is to get annual screenings. So much can be done! But if you don’t go to the doctor regularly, nothing can be done. There are no noticeable signs of retinopathy until it has progressed to a severe stage. You will not know anything is wrong with your vision until its too late if you wait for obvious symptoms. Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor every year and get your exam. Read about Sarah from Sugabetic and how she reversed her diabetic retinopathy through treatment.

Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

“Having too much glucose in the blood can damage your eye and can cause vision-threatening eye diseases,” explains EyeCanDoIt. “Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema are two common eye diseases caused by diabetes that can rob you of your vision. High blood glucose can also cause cataracts over time.”

Normal retinal blood vessels are watertight and do not leak. In diabetes, the retinal blood vessels can become damaged and develop tiny leaks. This is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Blood and fluid seep from the leaks in the damaged retinal blood vessels, and fatty material (called exudate) can deposit in the retina. This causes swelling of the retina. When leakage occurs and causes swelling in the central part of the retina (the macula), it is called macular edema, and vision will be reduced or blurred. Leakage elsewhere in the retina will usually have no effect on vision.

The only diabetes complication that can be reversed…

While there are many complications from diabetes and long-term high blood sugar levels that can’t be reversed (but can be largely prevented with diligent blood sugar management), diabetic retinopathy can be reversed if it is detected early enough. But the early stages of diabetic retinopathy come with no noticeable symptoms, which means the only way you’ll detect damage to the blood vessels in your retina is through an eye exam!

Comments

I’ve got the vision loss. The doctors always says get the exam, and treatment BEFORE you eyes get worse. They usually can’t fix the loss, but they can stop it. I am having trouble reading, driving and recognizing faces. More surgery is needed. DON’T put the exam off. It’s painless. My eye injections were quick and painless too.

Bob, nowadays they actually can REVERSE a great deal of the eye damage. If it has become severe, of course, it would likely be too lately to reverse it, but catching it early is what helps give a patient the opportunity to reverse. See the link to Sarah Sugabetic’s story about reversing her retinopathy in the article!

Just had mine. Yes, the pressure test and retinal exam are not fun, especially since I have an irrational fear of objects anywhere near my eyes. I also recommend seeing an ophthalmologist as opposed to an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is an M.D. who can perform the eye surgery if needed.

This article assumes people are voluntary refusing to get eye exams. But vision care, like dental care, is often not covered by insurance. Many people cannot afford to pay for vision exams, glasses, etc. themselves. That’s the elephant in our health care system’s room. We don’t include the whole body in our regular health care system. It’s not included in Medicare, either. My husband has both because he pays for an add-on to his Medicare Advantage insurance that covers it. I don’t have that option, since I’m not old enough for Medicare yet.

If you see an opthamologist rather than optometrist (glasses dr) it should be covered under medical if you have it! I get glasses from America’s Best, but the opthamologist deals with the diabetes eye care. Good luck!

All the eye exams that a diabetic needs, and as frequently as you need them once you have some complication going on, are very pricey especially if you are on Social Security/Medicare. Being diabetic, you also are likely to have a number of prescriptions, which can also get expensive. I’m very fortunate to be able to see my ophthalmologist every six-months and a new prescription for eyeglasses every two-years; I also have an eye plan through my husband’s work that allows me to see a doctor AND get a new prescription annually, so I’m getting excellent care.

My daughter who is 46 and legally blind from diabetes just lost her vision in one eye and is due to have eye surgery removal of blood behind the other eye and repair of the retina. I have tried to get her help with her blindness here in Colorado but not in soul has cin t acted me about any help such as being able to do certain things, walking m reading, etc, Can anyone help us?? Carmela Hilton dove124648@aol.com